Fractionating tower



Nov. 22, 1932. E. c. DYARMETT 1,888,872

FRACTIONATING TOWER Filedept. 3, v19291 IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD C. DYARMETT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE FRACTIONATOR COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI FRACTIONATING TOWER Application led September 3, 1929. Serial No. 389,957.

My invention relates to fractionating towers, and more particularly to apparatus of that character wherein vapors -of a liquid composed of a mixture of various liquids of different boiling points and solids in suspension, may be separated for recovery of -a desired fraction thereof, the invention being particularly adaptable for fractionation of the vapors of hydrocarbon oil, and hereinafter described in its specific application to such liquid without intent to limit the scope of the invention to treatment of any particular liquid.

In the single figure of vthe drawing a preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention is illustrated in central vertical section.

Referring in detail to the drawing:

1 designates a tank or shell preferably circular in cross section and closed at the bottom except for a port 2 through which vapors to be treated may be delivered to the shell from a supply line 3, and a port 4 through which residue may be drawn from the shell through a line 5, the inlet port being surrounded by a flange 6 for preventing back flow through the supply line. The shell is closed at the top by a cover 7 including an upwardly inclined body portion terminating in a vapor dome 8 and having an extension 9 depending into the confined space at the top of the tower chamber for a purpose presently disclosed, the top of the dome being provided with a central aperture 10, a shaft bearing 11 and stuffing box 12.

Journaled in the bearing 11 and in a bearing 13 at the bottom of the tank is a shaft 14 provided with a pulley 15 for a belt 16 whereby the shaft may be rotated from a source of power, not shown.

Opening laterally from the dome is a llne 17 for conducting vapors from the dome to a condenser indicated at 18, and preferably located within the dome is a gas trap 19 comprising a collar suspended from the dome by arms 20, and having an outlet line 21 extend- -ing through the wall of the dome for collecting and off -taking gases and very light vapors from the dome separately from the relatively heavy vapors exiting through the line 17.

Fixed to the shaft 14 within the tower chamber are centrifuging members 22 her-e shown in the form of disks, and hereafter referred to as disks without intention of limitation to any particularform of their structure, spaced from the wall of the tower to provide passageways for vapors moving in the tower, and preferably provided on their upper faces with radial, centrifuging blades 24 designates collars sleeved on the shaft to retain the disks in spaced relation.

Fixed to the wall of the tower and extended downwardly and inwardly between'the disks 22 are drip plates 25 for returning condensed liquid, with any reflux liquid that may be employed, from the wall of the tower onto the disks.

26 designates a nozzle surrounding the downward extension 9 of the dome 8, employed when reiux material supplied from the line 17 through a line 27 is to be distributed over the uppercentrifugin'g disks for revaporization by vapors in the tower.

While the apparatus as above described may be employed in this simple form when but a single cut is to be made, I prefer to adapt the tower for fractional distillation by I providing troughs 28 at different elevations in the tower and adjacent the wall thereof, within which condensate flowing down the wall of the tower may be collected and drawn from the tower through lines 29 provided with valves 80, and having cups 31 within the tower beneath the troughs, and to which the condensate is delivered through connections 32 in the troughs.- The troughs 28 are preferably formed vintegral with the drip plates and their outer portions continued upwardly along the wall of the tower to form lining members 33, the remaining plates being provided lwith similar lining portions to insure collection and distribution of all of thecondensates within respective zones, and for retaining the plates in proper spaced relation with each other and with the centrifuging disks.

Hot vapors, such as those emanating from ties, are delivered into the lower portion of the tower chamber, and rise through the chamber in the tortuous path imposed by the alternating disks and drip plates. When deflected inwardly by the drip plates the vapors encounter the blades on the upper faces of the rotating disks and heavier components thereof together with condensed liquid are thrown across the path of the rising vapors to contact with the wall of the tower, where the heavier fractions of the vapors condense and, flowing down the drip plates, shower through the rising uncondensed vapors and gases, so that the rising vapors vaporize and carry along with them lighter fractions in the down flowing condensate. Vapors of the predetermined desired fraction reach the top of the tower uncondensed and are collected in the dome, from which they are conducted to the condenser.

As the vapors cool progressively while they rise through the tower, fractions of progressively lower boiling points condense at the different stages and the condensate of such fractions may be drawn off separately through the fractional off-take lines provided at the different stages.

Gases and lighter vapors, including steam evolved from the oil when crude oil is the Inaterial being treated, are retained in the innermost zone adjacent the shaft and separatedl from the desired vapors by the trap 19 from which they may be removed separately from the vapors through the line 21.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A fractionating tower including a shell, an inlet port in said shell, a vapor dome above and communicating with the interior of the shell, a shaft rotatable in the shell and dome, spaced disks on the shaft within the shell, means in association with the disks and operable by the shaft for centrifuging vapors and their condensates passing through the shell, drip plates extending downwardly and inwardly from the wall of the shell betweenv the disks, and separate means for removing vapors from said dome and condensed liquid from the shell.

2. A fractionating tower including a shell having an inlet port, a vapor dome above and communicating with the interior of the shell, a shaft rotatable in the shell and dome, spaced disks on the shaft within the shell, means in association with the disks and operable by the shaft for centrifuging vapors and theircondensates passing through the shell, drip plates extending downwardly and inwardly from the wall of the shell between the disks, a gas trap surrounding the shaft within the vapor dome, and separate means for removing gases, vapors and liquid from the trap, the dome and the shell.

3. A fractionating tower includingfa shell, a shaft rotatable in the shell, a series of spaced centrifuging` means on the shaft, drip plates extending downwardly and inwardly from the wall of the shell between the centrifuging means, a vapor line leading from the top of the shell, means for returning condensed liquid from the vapor line to the shell, and a liquid outlet line leading from the bottom of the shell.

4. A fractionating tower including a shell having a vapor inlet port, a vapor dome above and communicating with the interior of the shell, a shaft rotatable in the shell and dome, a series of spaced members on the shaft for centrifuging vapors and their condensates passing through the shell, drip plates extending downwardly and inwardly from the wall of the shell for delivery into said centrifuging members, means for collecting condensates at vertically spaced points adjacent the wall of the shell, and separate outlet lines leading from said collecting means.

5. A fractionating tower comprising a shell, a vapor dome above and communicating with the interior of said shell, a shaft ro. tatable in the shell and dome, a series of spaced members on and rotatable with the shaft, radially extending blades carried by said spaced members, downwardly and inwardly extending plates carried by the wall of said shell and located between said spaced members, means for delivering vapors into said shell at its bottom, means forl withdrawing condensates as they are formed in said shell at various points along its wall, and means for withdrawing condensates from the bottom of said shell.

6. A fractionating tower comprising a shell, a vapor dome above and communicating with the interior of said shell, a shaft rotatable in the shell and dome, a series of spaced members on and rotatable with the shaft, radially extending blades carried by said spaced members, downwardly and inwardly extending plates carried by the wall of said shell and located between said spaced members, means for delivering vapors into said shell at its bottom, means for withdrawing condensates from said shellat various points along its wall and immediately above said inwardly extending plates, means for withdrawing condensates from the bottom of said shell, and means for withdrawing vapors from said dome.

7. A fractionating tower comprising a shell, a vapor dome above and communicating with the interior of said shell, a shaft rotatable in said shell and dome, a series of spaced members fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith, radially extending blades carried points along its wall, means for withdrawing condensates from the bottom of said shell, and a gas trap located in said dome, said gas trap having an outlet line extending through the wall of said dome for the withdrawal of gases from said trap.

8.' A ractionating tower comprising a shell, a vapor dome above and communicating with the interior of said shell, a shaft rotatable in the shell and dome, a series of spaced members mounted on and rotatable with the shaft, radially extending blades carried by said members, downwardly and inwardly eX- tending plates carried by the wall of saidshell and located intermediate the spaced members, means for delivering vapors into said shell at its bottom, means for withdrawing condensates from said shell adjacent said spaced members, means for withdrawing condensates from the bottom of said shell, means :for withdrawing vapors from said vapor dome, a condenser located in said vapor withdrawing means, and means for returning condensates from said condenser to said shell.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

EDWARD C. DYARMETT. 

